Sign



J. L. HEVJITT .lFeb. 26 1924.

SIGN

Filed May 10, 1923 FIG: .21

WITNESSES;

INVENTOR: John L iwifi, BY fia /pg C TTORNEYS.

Tatented Feb. 2%, tea

JOHN Z1. HEWITT, 0E ant-marinara, FENHSYLVMHA.

EiEQrIfl.

Application filed an w, 19%. genial Iio. @hthflfi'i.

, Signs, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates generally to signs 'for advertising orannouncement purposes, and it has more particular reference to devicesof the'character adapted for attachmenton walls, doors and similarstructures, said signs being of a more or less permanent nature, or notintended for periodic change and variation' More specifically myinvention comprehends improvements in what may be conveniently termedfiat signs protected with a glass or other transparent outer facingagainst climatic or accidental disfigurement. Hereinafter wherever I usethe term flat sign it is to be understood as referring to a signembodying a glass or other transparent facing member having the signsuitably depicted on its under or non-exposed surface, in

' conjunction with a backing of appropriate protective material.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel structure offlat sign embodying meansfor effectively preventing the ingress ofdestructive matter to the back thereof, whereby the life and artisticchar acter of said sign are carefully preserved.

Another object of my invention comprehends the provision of a glassprotected flat sign having no nail or screw holes therethrough that tendto mar its beauty, as well as detrimentally affect its durability.

Further objects of this invention are, to improve and simplify theconstruction of flat signs, while diminishing their cost in manufacture,and increasing their eflectiveness in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my inventionconsistsessentially of a back member of durable and non-corrosive material,"having its peripheral edges upwardly and inwardly flare for grippingengagement upon the correspondingly but reversely flared perimeter of aplate glass facing with the sign appropriately painted, carved, marked,cemented or otherwise depicted on the'back thereof, said back memberhaving perforated extensions whereby the device may be secured in place.

In the further disclosure of the invention reference is to be had to theaccompanying sheet of drawings constituting a part of thisspecification, and in which like characters of reference designate thesame or corres 0nding parts in all the views, the same eing illustrativebyway of example only of one practical embodiment of the said invention.

Figure I is a face view of a flat sign in accordance with thisinvention.

Figure H is an end view of the same.

Figure HT is a central longitudinal section through the showing inFigure T; and

Figure TV is a transverse section of the same.

Referring more in detail to the drawings and in accordance with myinvention the novel flat sign generally characterized by the numeral 5,comprises a .back member 6 of appropriate non-corrosive sheet metalsusceptible of receiving a more or less permanent degree of polish. Thisback member 6 is conveniently of substantially rectangular formation inplan thereby providing parallel longitudinal sides or edges 7, 7, andopposed segmental ends 8, 8, the latter being provided with one or morenail or screw holes 9, for the passage of nails or screws, whereby theflat sign 5 is secured against a wall or other structure in the veryobvious and well known manner. The aforesaid longitudinal edges 7, 7,are bent at substantially right angles to the plane of the main portionof the back member 6 to provide outstanding flanges 10 for a purposehereafter explained. Transversely relative to the aforesaid back memher6- are a pair of opposed end members or angled strips 11, 11, of thesame sheet material from which said back member is made, and said angledstrips 11, embody relatively long or spacing flanges 12. and shortoutstanding flanges 13 adapted to register with the flanges 10herei'nbefore referred to. Thus it will be seen that when the angledstrips 11, 11, are in assembled relation between the longitudinaloutstanding flanges 10 there is provided what may be aptly described asa shallow tray structure which constitutes a casing for the sign properor facing member 14.

This sign proper or facing member 14: is preferably made of plate glass,rectangular illltl) I in plan, and of lineal dimensions to fit ablybacked or coated with an opaque tissue 17 of appropriate characterhaving the sign or announcement 18 appearing-in exposed.

relation thereto. Or, the slgn or'announcement 18 may 'be appropriatelypainted, cut,

cementedor otherwise secured tothe back" of the plate gIass'member-14with the opaque tissue 17 coated on the aforesaid back 6.

- In assembling the sign 5 it will be apparent. that the necessaryadvertising or anto properly adhere thereto.

nouncement matter 18 is firstly depicted on the back of the plate. glass14 and allowed.

strips 11 are next laced in position between the outstanding spacingflanges 12. Thus it will be readily seen that the flanges12 space theadvertlsingor announcement matter from actual contact with the backmember 6 thereby protecting same from'disfiguremn't. The peripheraloutstanding flanges 10, 13. are now crimped or suitably expanded intogripping engagement with the aforesaid side and end scallops 15,16,while the ends of the flanges 10 are. clinched by a fold over 19intosecure frictional contact with the abutting ends .20 of the flanges13. Thus it will be remarked that the several parts are securelyconnected together into a substantially unitarystructure, while a neatand attractive wall or other structure fiat sign 5 is provided.

Obviously the angled strips 11 may be securely attached by theirspacingflanges 12 to the back member 6 in any of the well known ways, while thefold over ends '19 may be cemented or otherwise immovably connected tothe abutting ends 20 to ensure an unbreakable ioint thereat. Furthermoreit is to be noted, that by making the sign matter or announcement 18 ofluminous or phosphorescent material the device will be clearlydiscernible after dark without the necessity for associatedillumination; while a fiber or othersuitable material cushioning layer21 is interposed between the back of the glass 14 and the angle strips11, 11 to protect the announcement matter from damage by an accidentalblow or other shock] From the foregoing it will be clearly apparent thatby my inventionthere is provided, a sim le, cheap, and durable sign-oradvertising evice, the same possessing attractive and artisticcharacteristic features that will commend said device for ready us-- agein diversified situations. While I have The angled anges '10, as beforeset forth, with the plate glass 14 seating on the shown and describedonepractical desi n and embodiment of my invention it will e apparent thesame, is susceptible of modification in contour or pattern, thereforethe right issliereby reserved to'make such'reasonable variation'thereinas. fairly lies with-. in the scope of the apflended claim's. Having.thus .descr ed my invention, 1 claim} I '1. A device of the characterdescribed,

comprisingga back member having edges af- I fordinga yieldable outsetangled perimeter, a superposed transparent face member having aninwardly scalloped peripheral edge andbearing advertising matter, saidoutset perimeter being adapted forcompression into"fr1ctionalengagementwith the inwardlyscalloped peripheral edge of said face rr'iember, and,supporting portions integral with the back member but independent of theface member. I 2. A device of the character edges and opposed curved ens, angled strips disposed 'inspaced relation between theaforesaidparallel angled edges, a superposed transparent face member having signmatter on its under surface, said face member being disposed between theangled edges and adapted for frictional engagement thereby, and theaforesaid curved ends constitutin a supporting means independent of theace memben.

. 3. A device ofthe character described, comprising a substantiallyrectangular back member having parallel angled ed es and opposed curvedends, angle strips isposed in spaced relation between the aforesaidparallel angled edges, a superposed transparent face member bearingannouncement matter seated on the angle strips between the parallelangled edges in spaced relation to the back member, all of said anglededges being adapted for flexureinto frictional contact with thealignededges of the face member, and the aforesaid curved endsconstituting a supporting means independent of a face member.

4.'A device of the character described,

described, comprislng a. substantially rectangular back' .member havingintegral arallel' angled supporting means independent of a face mem er.

enace 5. A device of the character described, comprising a substantiallyrectangular back member having integral parallel angled frictionalengagement with the aligning edges of the said face member, theaforesaid curved ends constituting a supporting means independent of theface member, and the ends of the aforesaid parallel edges beingangularly folded over into engagement with the abutting ends of the anle strips.

6. A device of the c aracter described comprising a substantiallyrectangular sheet metal back member having parallel angled edges andopposed curved ends, sheet metal angle strips disposed in spacedrelation between the aforesaid angled edges at right angles thereto, asuperposed transparent face member bearing announcement matter seatingon the back member and having scalloped edges, all of the angled edgesbeing adapted for compression into contact with the scalloped facemember edges, the aforesaid curved ends constituting a su portin meansindependent of the face mem r, an the ends of the angled parallel edgesbeing inter-engaged by the abutting ends of the angled strips.

7. A device of the character described comprising a substantiallyrectangular sheet metal back member having parallel angled edges andopposed curved ends, sheet metal angle strips disposed in spacedrelation between the aforesaid angled edges at right angles thereto, asuperposed transparent face member bearing an announcement seatingbetween the angled edges, said face member having opposed edgesreversely scalloped for frictional en agement by the aligned angleedges, the a oresaid curved ends constituting a supporting meansindependent of the face member, and the end portion of the aforesaidparallel edges being adapted by angular clinching to be broug t intolocked engagement with the abutting ends of the spaced angle strips.

8. A sign comprising a substantially rectangular non-corrosive sheetmetal back having parallel outwardly angled edges and opposed curvedends, non-corrosive sheet metal angle strips seated in spaced relationbetween the projecting flanges of the angled edges, a superposedplate-glass member having announcement matter depicted on its undersurface and adapted to seat between the angled edges and strips, saidface member having a beveled perimeter adapted for frictional engagementby the aligned projecting flanges, the aforesaid curved ends providing asupporting means independent of the face member, and the end portions ofthe parallel edges being adapted by an-' gular clinchin to be broughtinto locked engagement with the abutting ends of the spaced anglestrips.

9. A sign comprising a non-corrosive sheet metal back having paralleloutwardly angled edges and opposed curved ends, noncorrosive sheet metalangle strips arranged in spaced relation between the projecting flangesof the angled edges, a plate glass member having announcement matterdepicted on its under surface seated between the aforesaid projectingflanges and angle strips, said face member having a scalloped perimeteradapted to be frictionally engaged by the aligned projecting flanges,the aforesaid curved ends providing a supporting means independent ofthe face member, and the end portion of the parallel outwardl anglededges being clinched into locked engagement with the abutting ends ofthe spaced angle strips.

10. A sign comprising a non-corrosive sheet metal back having paralleloutwardly angled edges and opposed curved ends, noncorrosive sheet metalangle strips arranged in spaced relation between the projecting flangesof the angled edges, a plate glass member having announcement matterlumitill) nously depicted on its under surface seated between theprojecting flanges and angle strips, said face member having a scallopedperimeter adapted to be frictionally engaged by the aligned projectingflanges when compressed thereon, the aforesaid curved ends providing asupporting means independent of the face member, and the end portion ofthe parallel angled edges being clinched into snap engagement with theabutting ends of the spaced angle strips.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this 7th day of Ma 1923.

JOH L. HEWITT.

Witnesses:

Jams H. Brat, E. L; Fuaaampn.

